Thread-carrier-operating mechanism for circular-knitting machines.



H. E. HGUSEMAN.

THREAD CARRIER OPERATING MECHANISN FOR CIRCULAR ANITTII-IGA1AGHIAES.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE I2. I9I5.

. u M I A /A/VE/v To?? rra/715K n fag/JE mis/77am y H. E. HOUSEMAN.

Mmmm", MECHAMSM FOR CIRCULAR KNHNNG MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED )UNE l2. 1915.

Patente NovE 15H5.

2 SHEETS-39mm.

,Umm/EM UNITED sTATEsI PATENT oEEioE.

HAROLD E.`HOUSEMAN, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, .ASSIIGNCB- T0 lSTAND- ARD MACHINE COMPANY, 0`.E PENNSYLVANIA.

THBiEAD-CARRIEBOPEBAJTING MECHANISM POR CIRCFULALR,-KN'IT'T'FDGv OF PHULLADELPHIA,`

Specification of Letters Patent.

PENNSYLVANIA, A., GORUATION MACHINES.

rant'aivov. 2a, i915.

Application filed June 12, 1915. Serial No. 33,666..

T o all whom it may concern:

ings., which form a part of this specilication.

In an application tiled by Harryv A. Houseman September t), 191i, Serial No. 860,852,'for thread carrier operating mecha.- nisrn for circular knitting machines,V there is. set forth'inechanism applicable to that type of machinen in which the needle cylinder rotates'while the cams and thread carriers tional, of a cpain composed ing part of the thread carrier actuatingl diagrammatic plan are non-rotatable, whereby the thread carriers may be positivelv moved both into and out of operativerelation with the needles. 1n the speciiic embodiment ot the invention therein shown and described, the arrangement is such that any single thread may be moved into operation while any other thread carrier that has been pi'eviously rendered operative will be moved out of operation.

The object of the present invention is to modify and improve the invention of said application in such manner that any. thread carrier or any plurality of thread carriers maybe positively moved into action while at the same time any other thread carrier or any other plurality of thread carriers may be positively moved out of action.

In the drawings, which show a preferred embodiment ot' my invention: Figure l is al view, partly in elevation and partly secknitting `machine embodying my Fig. 2 is a view of a` pattern of links or cam plates forminvention.

mechanism. Fig.

3 is apartial plan View of Fig.v l. 'Figs t and 5 are sections on the lines and 5--5 of Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a' sectionon the line 6 6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is view of one of the ca m plates. Fig. 8 4is a plan view Aof a modiicatior in which the cam plates are arf ranged on a pattern ratchet wheel.

'lhe vrotary needgaI cylinder a may driven by means Vitlil Any number of thread shown, d', d2, d3, d?)

carriers (four are may vbe pivotglly lever f, which,

known in the art.'

mounted on a pin c secured to a frame Z1 which, asexplained in Patent No. 1,121,769, dated February 9, 1915, to Houseman and Houseman, may be pivotally supported so as to be swung up to permit ready access to the needle cylinder.

The hub ot' each thread carrier is/tethed, as at c, and engages' the /t/ooaedhub of a togetherwvith the .other three levers corresponding to the other three thread carriers, is pivoted on a pin g on the frame b. The lower ends of levers (each of which is beveled) extend between the arms of the respective forked bars h, h2, lzf and z, each of which has a projection y' which normally rests upon one of a pair of pins i, i. These pins are secured, as best shown in Fig. l so as to span4 the space be- 'tween the two arms of a .forked bracket k secured to a standard Z, which may pivotally support the frame Y), as above explained. The arms of forked bracket is and the two pins z', 1I form a guide within which the bars h', if, h3 and k* are slidable up and down. These bars are also capable of a slight swinging motion, as hereinafter explained.A Gravity alone may be relied upon to cause the bars to normally drop into the position shown in Fig. 1, although otherobvious ineans for causing them to normally assume the position may be applied if desired.

In Fig. l the bar kis shown swung to the left of its median position. It is clear that, when moved into this position, it has swung the corresponding lever f in the d'1- rection to move down the yarn carrier d into operative position. It is also clear that it the bar h is swung to the right oi its median position, it will swing the corresponding lever in the direction to move the To so swing the yarn carriers I have pro vided bell crank levers m and 'n pivoted on brackets g secured to standardl.

vers m and fn, are pivoted on opposite sides.-

of the set of bars. Lever m,at one free end,

carries al iinger o which is .in operative relation with a proiection ,r oneach bar Whenj the latter is in its lower position', as shown i y in Fig. 1; and lever n, at its free end, carries ich a finger p which is inoperative relatant` with a projections one.l "-h latter is in its raised positi bark when the Thus it will Argaim if, prior to the actuation of levers` y he understood that if any given bar he in its lowered position and if lever m is then act-uated, the corresponding thread carrier, 1f in operative position, will be lifted out of operative position -while the actuation of lever n will have no effect upon such harand thread carrier; whereas if any given bar be in its raised position and if lever@V be then actuated, thevcorrespondin'g thread carrier, 1f in inoperative position, will be moved down into operative position while 'the actuation of lever fm, will have no ellect upon such bemand thread carrier.- It willl thus be seenA` that if selective or pattern controlled means are provided to 'lift any one or more bars corresponding to the thread carriers Vthat it is desired to render active and if both levers mand n be then actuated, the result will be to move such thread carrier or carriers into action while the remaining thread carrier or carriers will, if in opera-` rtive position, be rendered inoperative and a, it ,is desired to maintain 'any thread carrier in o erative position, then if 'its corresponding ar be lifted, neither ofv levers m and n will swing the bar, and the. thread carrier will remain in operative posi. tion;v while if it is desired to maintain any:

thread carrier in inactive position, then i'its corresponding har be not lifted, neither of -levers m and 'n willswing the'har, andthe Tqeifect; the lifting of hars It', .71.2, zf, and' L. and the' actuation of levers m and n I have provided cani plates t. Each cam plate carries a cam u and a can'i fu. Cam, it, through aj spring pressed rod "w, actuates lever m (which, as before explair1ed,ei'ccts the lifting of the thread carriers out ot' `ac tion). Cam u, through a spring pressed rod actuates lever "n (which, as het'ore explained, effects the depression of the thread carriers into act-ion). Each cam plate also carries one l`r more selector cams y, which act to lift bars h', la?, h3 and fr". Each har is providedat itsllower end with a .projectiene. The four' projections of the four i bars are arranged out-of alinement one with the other so lthat when cam plate bunderrides the barst yany one or "more of the 'hars will he Ilifted .dependent uponthe numloer` and position of cams y. Thus, in F ig. 7, the cani plate is shown as provided with one'cain yv which in line with the. projection .e on (sa-y) bar h3; As the cam plate passes underv the harsfit lifts vbar f while allthe other harsA remain d own,v4 The result will be that,

after the actuation of levers m and n, whatever the precedi g positions'of the several thread carriers ay be, thread carrier d will' be in its ower orA operative position while the 'remaining thread carriers will be in their upper or inoperative posltlons.

. The relative positions of-rods w and m,

projections a and cams u, oand'y are such that as cam plate t travels under said rods and pro`ections the bar or bars to be lifted will be rst actuated. Then cam o lifts rod actuating lever n, which actuates any lifted bar or bars to cause the corresponding carrier or carriers to be moved down intoV operative position. Then cam u lifts rod Iw, actuating lever m, whichactuates the rel maining bar or hars to cause the corresponding carrier or carriers to be moved up out of operative position. The successive, f

85 .ments of :levers n and m arev preferred, tow j placing of new thread in the instead of absolutely simultaneous, movemsure 'thev ,needles before the oldthread is removed.

therefrom.' l,

Cam plates' tvxnay ,be brought successively into. operative relation Awithv the thread carner actuating devices atintervals governed intervals. Such a pattern ratchet wheelV is set forth in the Housema'n and Houseman Patent No. 1,127,768,6.ated F ebrllary 9,1915.

VTo hold a thread carrier in up or down-to which it has provide a spring actuated awl lever 13 pivoted on fframe and aclapted to engage either one .of' two detents'in the hub of the carrier lever dependent upon Whether the carrier is swung up or down.

' It will be noted that forked arms of each carrier-actuating bar are beveled outwardly toward their. ends,

f the frame b is swung up on its pivtg'as' before explained, levers will be carried out of the mouths of the for ted k ends-.ofthe bars. flhe beveled faces of these foiltediariix'Bi-acilf ltate proper rengagement of leversa'nd' bars when the frame v) isreturned to its normal position. -1

the position- It. will be understoody that when a thread carrier is raised into inoperative position and thus out of the range ofthe revolving-1 s needles, some customary means will he provided to sever the threads.`

Having now fully what i' claim and ters Patent is: f

l. In a circular knitting machine, the com-V art of 'the pattern, mechanism.

.vanishv may itself be' 'a pattern' 1'oo loisl been moved, I

the endsvo'f-the tivo *i izo described my inventiomf 'y desire to 'protect by. Letbination of a rotatable needle cylinder, a plurality ot" non-rotatable independent thread carriers each of which is adapted to feed threadtothe needlesof said cylinder, and positively operated mechanism adapted to positively move any one of said carriers, or' a plurality of'sa-id carriers simultaneously.'into or out of action.

i5. ln a circular knitting machine, the coinbination ci a rotatable needle cylinder, a plurality ot non-rotatable independent thread carriers, and positively and independently operable devices, one forv each carrier, and each adapted to positively move is'corisppnding carrier both into and out of actionll i 3. ln a circular knitting machine, the combiigition of a rotatable needle cylinder, a pltnality of non-rotatable l independent thread carriers, and positively operated mechanism to successively positively move y one or more carriers intoaction and one or more carriers out of action. e. In a circular knitting machine,the coinbination of a. rotatable needle cylinder, a series of non-rotatable independent thread carriers adapted to be moved into and-out of action, and pattern controlled mechanism adapted to be operated to first dictate the movement of any one or more carriers in either direction and then positively operate the same.

ln a circular knitting machine,the combination ot a needle cylinder, a plurality ot v independent thread carriers, independent actuating devices for the respective thread carrierseach of which is adapted to positively move its corresponding thread carrier both into and out of action, and positively operating means adapted to selectively control said devices and positively actuate them yto effect the shiftv of their rcspective thread carriers.

6. In a circular knitting inachine,the combination of a' needle cylinder, applurality of independent thread carriers, independent actuating means for the respective carriers each of which is adapted to positively carry both into and out of action, and mechanism adapted tf first position and then positively operate said carrier actuating means.

'l'. ln a circular knitting machine, the combination ot a needle cylinder, a plurality ot independent thread carriers, devices adapted to be moved in opposite directions and thereby positively move their respective carriers into or ut et action, and cam mechanism adapted to iirst position a plurality f said `devices for movement in opposite directions and than positively operate the same.

I 8.' ln a circular knitting machine. the combination of arotatable needle cylinder, a series of non-rotatable independent'. thread carriers, positively operated mechanism adapted to positively move all said cairiers simultaneously into or out of action, and pattern controlled means to selectively control the operation of said carriers by said mechanism.

9. ln a circular knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder, a series of independent thread' carriers, positively and independently operable devices, one for each carrier, and each adapted to positivelyv move its corresponding carrier both into andout of action, positively operated mechanism respectively adapted to positively act'iiate said devices in opposite directions and thereby move the corresponding carriers into or outv of action, and pattern mechanism adapted to selectively control the operations of said devicesA by said mechanism.

l0. In a circular knitting machine, the

,combination of a rotatable needle cylindena plurality of non-rotatable independent thread carriers, and positivelyil operated means separate from but operatively connected with the thread carriers for successively positively moving one ormo'lre thread carriers into action and one or more thread carriers out of action.

11. ln a circular knitting machine, the combination otl a. rotatable needlecylinder, a plurality of non-rotatable .independent -thi'ead carriers, positively operated mechanisin to move said thread carriers into aetion, positively operated mechanism to move said thread carriers out of action, and means to bring any one or more .thread carriers into simultaneous operative relation with either of said mechanisms.

l2. ln a. circular knitting machine, the combination cfa rotatable needle cylinder, a. plurality of .non-rotatable independentthread carriers, positively operated' mechanisin to move said thread carriers into acg move its corresponding thread carrier into or out of action, positively operating means adapted to positively actuate 'said devices in both directions, and pattern mechanism adapted to selectively control the operation of said means.

14. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder, a plurality of inde-pendent thread carriers, independent` actuatingl devices 'flor the 'respective thread.

carriers each otwhicli is adapted toniove in opposite directions and thereby positively move its corresponding cari-ier into or out of action, mechanism to positively.

into operative relation with said mechanisms.

15. Inv a circular knitting machine, the

mechanism adapted to simultaneously move all the carriers out of action,

' pdsitively operated mechanism to return the carriers into action, and selectivemeans to render the first lmechanism inoperative to move any one or more carriers.

16. In a. circular knitting machine, the combination of a'needle cylinder, a plurality of inde )endent thread ,carriers, positively operat mechanism adapted to simultaneously move all the carriers into action, positively operated mechanism to Withdraw the carriers from action, and selective means to bring the first mechanism and any one or morefof said tion.

17. In a circular knitting machine, the

combination of a needle cylinder, a. plurality of independent thread carriers, independent devices adapted to positively move the respective carriers both into and out of action, mechanism adapted to positively ac-l tuate any of-saiddevices to ca use it, dependf ent upon its position, to move its corresponding thread carrier either into lor out 'of action, and means to 'independently position said devices.4

18. In a -circular knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder, a plurality. of independent-'thread carriers, independent devices adapted to positively move the respective carriers both into and out of action, mechanism adapted, when said devices are in one position, to positively move their corresponding thread 'carriers into action, mechanism adapted, when said devices are in another position, to positively move their corresponding thread carriers out 'of action, 'and' means to independently control the positions of the several devices.

19. In a circular knitting machine, the

combination of a needle cylinder, a pluralityof independent thread carriers, independent devices adapted to positively move the respective carriers both into and out of action, mechanism adapted, when saiddevices are inl one position, to positively move their correspondingthreadcarriers into action, mechanism adapted, when said devices are in another position, to positively move theiijcorresponding thread carriers out of action, and means to first position said de# vices and then successively actuate the two mechanisms. L

carriers into operative rela-A rality of independent thread carriers, de-

vices adapted, according to their positions, to ,independently move their respective thread carriers into or out of action, and a succession of periodically actuated sets of i said devices, a.' carrier lifting cam adapted to actuate any device in one position and a carrier depressing cani adapted to actuate any device Ai'ntheother position,

21.. 'In' a circular knitting vmachine, the?A combination of a needlecylinder, a' plurality-T.

of independent thread carriers, carrier de- `cams, each set comprising a selective cam or` cams adapted to determine fthe ,positions of Y combination of aneedle cylinder, a plurality of' inde endent4 thread carriers, positively operate pressing mechanism, carrier lifting inechav nism, and a succession of periodically actuated sets of cams, each set comprising acarrier depressing cam adapted to 'actuate `the first mechanism, a carrier lifting cam adapted to actuate the second mechanism, and a selective cam or. cams adapted to control the actuation by Said mechanisms ofthe several thread carriers. f'

22. In. a circular knitting .'machiiie, vthe combination of a needle4 cylinder, a plurality of independent thread carriers,rindependent f bars adapted, dependent upon 'their posi'- tions, to be actuated to move .their corresponding carriers either into or out of action, a lever adapted to actuate an bar cupying one position, and a lever'a apted to whereby the positions of all thethread car- `actuate any bai' occupying another position,

riens may bef-determined, in advance of the operation of said levers, bycontrolling the positions of the corresponding bars.

23. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder, a plurality of independent thread carriers, independent bars adapted, dependent upon their positions, to be actuated to move their corresponding carriers eitherinto or out of action, a level` adapted to actuate any bar occupying one position, a .leveradaptcd to actuate any bar occupying another position, i,

and selective means to independently control the positions of the several bars. 24. In a circular knittingvmachine, theK combination ojji needlecylinder, a pluralityV of independent thread carriers,independent bars adapted to be moved to move the respective thread carriers bothl into and out of operative position, a carrier depressing lever and 'a carrier lifting lever adapted to so move said bars, :and pattern niechanism rit adapted'to render either lever inoperative ,to actuate any of said bars.-

25. In "a circularknitting machine, the 'combination of aneedle cylinder, a plurality" of independent thread carriers, independent bars adapted'to be movedto move the respective thread carriers both into and out of operative position, a carrier depressingiradaptedf to actuate lever and a carrier lever. adaptedto so move said bars, traveling set of. cams two of which control theoperation of the respective levers and one or more of which control the positions'of said bars to bring each bar into operative relation lwith one or the other lever.4 `4 Y v 26. 'In a circular knitting machine, the combinationv of a needle cylinder, 'a .plurality of independent. thread carriers, independent bars adapted to be moved to move the respective thread carriers both into and out of action, carrier-depressing and carrier-lifting levers adapted to so. move said bars, rods the respective levers', a cam or cams adapted\t0 control the positions oisaid bars 'to bring each bar into operative relation with one or the other lever, and

camsadapted to successively actuate the respective rods.

27. In a circular knitting machine, the

i 1 combination of a needle cylinder, a plurality Vso of individual thread carriers, bars slidable longitudinally relatively to the thread c ariiers and also swingable in opposite directions to positively move the respective thread carriers into and out offaction, mechanism to swing the bars in one direction orthe other dependent upon the longitudinal positions of the bars, and means controlling the longitudinal position of each bar.

28. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder, a plurality of individual thread carriers, bars slidable its of individual thread carriers, independent bars slidable longitudinally relatively to the thread carriers and also swingable in opposite directions to positively move the respective thread carriers into and out of action, means controlling v the longitudinalosition of each bar, and a carrier lifting ever and a carrier depressing lever one or the other of which is adapted to actuate each bar dependent upon the latters longitudinal position. f I

30. In a circular knitting machine, the' combination of a needle cylinder, a plurality of individual thread carriers, independent bars slidable longitudinally relatively to the thread carriersand also swing-able in i' opposite directions to positively move the action,

respectivev thread carriers into and out of a carrier lifting lever, a carrier depressing lever one or the other of which is adapted to actuateeacli bar dependent upon the latters longitudinal position, and traveling cams tivo of which are adapted to opcrate the respective levers and the remainder of which are adapted to control the position of each bar.

3i. In a circular knitting machine, the combination ot' a needle cylinder, a plurality ofindividual thread carriers, levers geared to the respective carriers, bars slidable longitudinally relatively to said levers and also swingable in opposite directions to swing the respective lever and thereby positively swing the respective thread carriers iiito and ,put of action, mechanism' to .swing the bars Tin one direction or the other dependent upon the longitudinal positions of the bars, and means controlling the longitudinal position of each bar.

32. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder, a plurality of individual thread carriers, bars slidable longitudinally relatively to the thread carriers and also swingable in opposite directions to positively move the respective carriers into and out of action, projections 'on opposite edges oi' each bar, levers one adapted to engage the set of projections on one side and the other adapted to engage the set of projections on the other side, and means to control the longitudinal position of each bar to bring it into operative relation with one or the other lever.

33. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder, a plurality of individual thread carriers, levers geared to the respective carriers, forked bars, each lever extending between the forked arms of its corresponding bar, means fto independently slide the bars, and mechanisin to swing each bar in one direction or the other dependent upon its longitudinal position. 34. In a (rcular knitting machine, the combination f a needle cylinder, a plurality of individual .thread carriers, levers geared to the respective carriers, a pivoted frame on which said carriers and levers are swiveled, bars one for eachlever, each bar having forked arms beveled at their outer ends and between which the corresponding lever enters when said frame is-swung into operative position, mechanism to swing the b ars in opposite directions, and means controlling the direction in which each bar is swingable.

B5. In a circular knittin combination of a needle cy nder2 a plurality of independent thread carriers, independent actuating l carriers each of which is adapted to positively move its' corresponding carrier both into and out of action, mechanism adapted to positively actuate said devioesto eil'ect machine, thev devicesfor the respective the moveme vt into action oftheirirespective carriers.' ntherumechanism adagteil'ri posiist e tively actuated mechanisms, und patterm,

'tively actuate said devices to effect the moveently movable relatively to seid mechanisms to bring it into operative relation with one or the other of said`mechanisms.

36. In a circular'knitting machine, the combination of a rotatable needle cylinder, a -series ofnoii-rotatahle independent thread carriers adapted to he iiioved into and out of action, two oppositely-:icting eind posicontrolled intermediate devices, one for enen y carrier, eaeh of which is adapted tovbe -in- -dependently,-positioned to bring'its corresponding carrier into operative relation with one orthe other of Said mechanisms to enable the latter'to positively move such carrier into oi' out ofaction. i

In testimony of which invention, I have Ahereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, on. 

